Your Charcoal Grill Burns Hot on One Side and Cold on the Other — The Pit Boss 700FB Holds Temperature Within 5 Degrees for $419
You've stood over a charcoal grill with a spray bottle in one hand and tongs in the other, shuffling meat around to avoid the hot spot that chars everything it touches. Or you've pulled a propane grill's temperature knob to "medium" and watched it swing 50 degrees in either direction while your chicken dries out. The Pit Boss 700FB solves the temperature problem that every charcoal and propane owner eventually hits: it holds temperature within 5 degrees of your setting, hands-free, for hours at a time.
At 700 square inches of cooking area, a 180–500°F range, a 21 lb pellet hopper, and a 5-year warranty, this is the grill that made pellet cooking accessible to people who don't want to spend $800 on a Traeger. It has 3,500+ verified reviews at 4.4 stars from buyers who chose it specifically because it delivers more cooking space, a longer warranty, and a lower price than anything in its class.
The trade-off is real: no WiFi, no app, no digital controller. You get an analog dial. For a lot of buyers — especially first-time pellet grill owners — that's not a trade-off. It's a feature. No firmware updates, no Bluetooth pairing failures, no app that stops working after a software update. You turn the dial, the grill holds temp, and the food comes out right.
Pit Boss 71700FB Pellet Grill — 700 Sq In
- ✓ 700 sq in total cooking area
- ✓ 180–500°F temperature range
- ✓ 21 lb hopper — up to 20 hrs at low-and-slow
- ✓ Flame broiler slide plate for direct searing
- ✓ 5-year warranty
Is This Page For You?
You're upgrading from charcoal or propane and want set-it-and-forget-it temperature control — the Pit Boss 700FB holds temp within 5 degrees. No more babysitting flare-ups or chasing hot spots across the grate.
You're buying your first pellet grill and don't want to spend $800 — this is the best-reviewed pellet grill under $500 with 700 sq in of cooking space and a 5-year warranty.
You prefer simplicity over connectivity — the analog dial means no app downloads, no WiFi setup, no firmware updates. Turn the dial, walk away, come back to done food.
You're shopping for a Father's Day gift on a budget — the Pit Boss 700FB is the most-gifted pellet grill in its price range. A 5-year warranty means you're not replacing it next year.
You want WiFi monitoring and app-based control — the 700FB has no connected features. If you want to check your grill from the couch, look at the Traeger Pro 575 or the Pit Boss Pro Series instead.
You need precise PID digital temperature control — the analog dial is simple but less precise than PID controllers found on the Camp Chef Woodwind or Z Grills 700E. For competition-level precision, spend more.
Pit Boss 700FB vs. the Competition
| Spec | Pit Boss 700FB | Traeger Pro 575 | Z Grills 700E | Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking area | 700 sq in | 575 sq in | 694 sq in | 811 sq in |
| Temp range | 180–500°F | 180–500°F | 180–450°F | 160–500°F |
| Hopper capacity | 21 lbs | 18 lbs | 20 lbs | 22 lbs |
| Controller type | Analog dial | WiFIRE (WiFi + PID) | PID digital | PID digital |
| WiFi / App | No | Yes (Traeger app) | No | Yes (Camp Chef app) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Weight | ~70 lbs | ~68 lbs | ~82 lbs | ~120 lbs |
| Best for | Value buyers | Tech-forward grillers | Budget + PID | Serious cooks |
What 3,500+ Verified Buyers Report
Temperature consistency is the #1 reason buyers switch from charcoal. Reviewers who upgraded from charcoal or propane consistently call out the Pit Boss 700FB's ability to hold temperature within a narrow range for hours without intervention. The most common 5-star phrase: "I should have switched years ago." Buyers report that briskets, pork shoulders, and ribs come out more evenly cooked than anything they produced on charcoal.
The 5-year warranty builds trust with first-time buyers. Multiple reviewers specifically mention the 5-year warranty as the deciding factor over Traeger (3 years) and Z Grills (3 years). For buyers spending $400+ on their first pellet grill, knowing the manufacturer stands behind it for half a decade matters — especially when competitor warranties are 40% shorter.
The analog dial divides opinion — but most buyers end up preferring it. Buyers who come from digital controllers initially question the analog dial. But the majority of reviews that mention the dial describe it positively: "simple," "reliable," "nothing to break." The buyers who are genuinely frustrated by it are those who want to monitor remotely — and they tend to acknowledge that WiFi grills cost $200+ more.
Assembly takes 1–2 hours and requires a second person. The most common complaint in 3-star reviews is assembly difficulty. Buyers report that the instructions could be clearer, some bolt holes need minor alignment, and having a helper makes the process significantly easier. Once assembled, complaints about the grill itself are rare.
The flame broiler slide plate is an unexpected favorite. Buyers who discover the slide plate — which lets you expose food directly to the fire pot for searing — consistently call it a game changer. Most pellet grills at this price cannot sear. The Pit Boss can hit 500°F with direct flame access, giving you steakhouse-quality sear marks on a sub-$500 grill.
Full Specs
| Brand | Pit Boss |
| Model | 71700FB |
| ASIN | B01GFX0104 |
| Total Cooking Area | 700 sq in (includes upper rack) |
| Temperature Range | 180°F–500°F |
| Hopper Capacity | 21 lbs |
| Controller | Analog dial (non-PID) |
| WiFi / Bluetooth | No |
| Flame Broiler | Yes (slide plate for direct/indirect heat) |
| Cooking Grate Material | Porcelain-coated steel |
| Weight | ~70 lbs |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Amazon Rating | 4.4★ from 3,500+ reviews |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓700 sq in cooking area — 125 sq in more than the Traeger Pro 575 at a lower price
- ✓5-year warranty — longest in this price category by a wide margin
- ✓Flame broiler slide plate for direct searing up to 500°F — rare at this price
- ✓21 lb hopper supports 12–20 hours of cooking without refilling
- ✓Analog dial simplicity — no apps, no firmware, no connectivity issues
- ✓4.4 stars from 3,500+ verified buyers across multiple years
Cons
- ✗No WiFi, no app, no remote monitoring — you must be physically present to check temperature
- ✗Analog dial is less precise than PID controllers — temperature swings of 10–15°F are possible
- ✗Assembly instructions could be clearer — plan for 1–2 hours with a second person
- ✗No built-in meat probe — you'll need to buy a wireless thermometer separately
- ✗Paint on the exterior can chip after extended exposure to high heat and weather
The Value Proposition: What $419 Actually Gets You
The pellet grill market has a pricing problem. Traeger built the category and set the expectation that pellet grills cost $600 to $1,200. Camp Chef and Weber reinforced that ceiling with premium builds and connected features. If you walk into a big-box store and look at pellet grills, your eyes land on price tags that start at $600 and go up fast. The Pit Boss 700FB breaks through that floor.
For roughly $419 — check Amazon for current pricing, as this fluctuates — you get 700 square inches of cooking area. That's enough to smoke six racks of ribs, two full briskets, or a Thanksgiving turkey with sides. The Traeger Pro 575 gives you 575 square inches for approximately $200 more. That's 125 fewer square inches of cooking surface for significantly more money. The math is not close.
The 5-year warranty is the other number that shifts the calculation. Most pellet grills at any price offer 3 years. Some budget models offer 1 year. Pit Boss covers you for 5 years on the 700FB. If you amortize the purchase price over the warranty period, you're paying roughly $84 per year for a 700 sq in pellet grill. That is less than most people spend on charcoal and lighter fluid in a single grilling season.
What you give up is real but quantifiable: WiFi monitoring (solution: a $25 wireless meat thermometer), PID precision (solution: the analog dial holds well enough for everything short of competition smoking), and app-based recipe guides (solution: YouTube). The savings fund the accessories, and you still come out $150+ ahead of the Traeger.
Pit Boss 71700FB Pellet Grill — 700 Sq In
The best-reviewed pellet grill under $500 — more cooking space and a longer warranty than the Traeger Pro 575.
700 sq in · 180–500°F · 21 lb hopper · 5-year warranty · 4.4 ★ from 3,500+ reviews
Check Current Price on Amazon →Prices and review counts are estimates and may vary. Check Amazon for current pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pit Boss 700FB a good first pellet grill?
Yes. The Pit Boss 700FB is one of the most recommended first pellet grills because of its simple dial control, large cooking area, 5-year warranty, and price under $500. You do not need an app or WiFi to use it effectively. The analog dial makes temperature setting straightforward for beginners, and 3,500+ verified buyers confirm it holds temperature reliably after initial seasoning.
Does the Pit Boss 700FB have WiFi or an app?
No. The Pit Boss 700FB uses an analog dial controller for temperature selection. There is no WiFi, no Bluetooth, and no companion app. If you want connected features, you would need to step up to the Pit Boss Pro Series or look at the Traeger Pro 575. Many buyers specifically prefer the dial for its simplicity and the fact that there is no software to update or troubleshoot.
How does the Pit Boss 700FB compare to the Traeger Pro 575?
The Pit Boss 700FB offers 700 sq in of cooking area versus the Traeger Pro 575 at 575 sq in, costs approximately $200 less, and includes a 5-year warranty versus Traeger's 3-year warranty. The Traeger Pro 575 wins on WiFi connectivity, the Traeger app with over 1,600 recipes, and more precise PID digital temperature control. If you value cooking space and warranty per dollar, the Pit Boss wins. If you want app-based monitoring and digital precision, the Traeger wins.
What is the temperature range on the Pit Boss 700FB?
The Pit Boss 700FB operates from 180 degrees F to 500 degrees F. This range covers low-and-slow smoking at 225F, standard barbecue temperatures around 275-325F, and high-heat grilling and searing up to 500F. The flame broiler slide plate lets you expose food directly to the fire pot for searing, which most competing pellet grills at this price do not offer.
How long does the Pit Boss 700FB hold pellets on a full hopper?
The 21 lb hopper capacity typically provides 12 to 20 hours of continuous cooking depending on the temperature setting. At low-and-slow temperatures around 225F, you can expect closer to 18-20 hours. At higher grilling temperatures around 400-500F, pellet consumption increases and you may get 10-12 hours. For an overnight brisket cook, one full hopper is usually sufficient without refilling.
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